Exploring the lavish lives of the elite members of New York society in the 1880s, The Gilded Age provides plenty of drama, ambition, and romance. Between the beautiful and tragic marriage of Ada (Cynthia Nixon) and Luke Forte (Robert Sean Leonard), the budding romance between Marian (Louisa Jacobson) and Larry (Harry Richardson), the cute dynamic Mrs. Bruce (Celia Keenan-Bolger) and Mr. Borden (Douglas Sills) have established, and many more, there are plenty of relationships to follow. Yet no couple in The Gilded Age is quite like George (Morgan Spector) and Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon). The Russells have been a combined force since their introduction, and the series has proven how well they complement each other. George is a ruthless businessman who has made his own fortune. Meanwhile, Bertha is a determined social climber with big ambitions that she has the follow-through to reach — but as well-suited as they are, I’m worried about this pair going forward.
The Gilded Age is headed into Season 3, and after Season 2’s finale, there is a lot I’m looking forward to. The HBO drama’s return will finally confirm how things have changed with Ada as the head of Agnes’ (Christine Baranski) house, pick up with Jack’s (Ben Ahlers) attempt to sell his invention, and much more. However, Carrie Coon’s recent hints about Bertha and George’s storyline in Season 3 make me nervous that my favorite couple will not be at their best. While Season 2 saw at least one significant argument between them, Coon’s comments suggest that Season 3 is going to divide the Russells further.
Carrie Coon Hints that the Russells Will Be at Odds in ‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3
With the season yet to begin, not too many details have been revealed, but speaking to Collider, Coon hinted at her character’s upcoming storyline when she said that having the Russells’ marriage “be on the rocks the whole season was challenging” for her and her co-star Morgan Spector. I had a hunch that George and Bertha wouldn’t be in sync in these new episodes, especially since Season 2 sets up a conflict for them regarding their daughter, Gladys (Taissa Farmiga). Yet, Coon suggests that the argument will not be resolved quickly, which is a shame.
Coon went on to discuss the effect of George and Betha’s extended argument for her and Spector, saying, “We so love the scenes where we get to connect, because so much of what we’re doing is ambitious and cutthroat, and those were the moments where we got to be humans. So, to take that away, it was hard for us; we missed it terribly.” Spector and Coon will not be the only ones to miss the Russells’ old dynamic. This potential lack of alignment adds a layer of unpredictability to the upcoming season, but I like it better when they work as a team.
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Let the historical drama games begin.
What Do the Russells Have to Fight About in ‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3?
Given where the story left off, I shouldn’t be surprised that George and Bertha will be arguing. Season 2’s ending hinted at a conflict between them as Bertha is set on raising Gladys’ social standing with a marriage to the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Lamb), while George promised Gladys that she would be allowed to marry for love and that he would stand against Bertha to make it happen. It’s the natural escalation of that storyline, plus it’s taken right out of history. Though the Russells are fictional, Bertha, in particular, is heavily inspired by the real-life socialite Alva Vanderbilt, who had a rocky marriage. After pushing her daughter to marry a Duke, Alva’s marriage fell apart, so history suggested Bertha and George were headed for trouble long before Coon hinted at it. However, the loose parallels to history don’t entirely dictate The Gilded Age, so I’m holding out hope for the Russells.
Coon has confirmed that the issues in the Russells’ marriage will be about Gladys’ future, explaining that she had to “understand the psychology” of Bertha’s choices and how she isn’t just motivated by appearances but by what she truly considers best for her family. Both George and Bertha want what’s best for Gladys; it’s just that they have drastically different perspectives, and neither is used to being denied. George promises to listen to Gladys when she says she loves a man because that is what he wants for her in a marriage. Yet, Bertha thinks Gladys should choose power and influence over love. As Coon puts it, “The world is not set up for Gladys. Gladys is a woman. Her rights are secured through marriage.” That is what Bertha is looking for. Maybe she isn’t entirely in the wrong, but Bertha projects her own desires onto Gladys, rejecting Gladys’ opinions in her pursuit. The question is, will this be an irrevocable difference between George and Bertha? I certainly hope The Gilded Age doesn’t borrow that particular chapter of Alva Vanderbilt’s life and allows the Russells to reconcile.
‘The Gilded Age’s George and Bertha Russell Are Better Together
Bertha and George are The Gilded Age‘s power couple. While George dominates the business world, Bertha has become a force to be reckoned with in the social scene, and neither will be denied. They are both ruthless and sometimes cold, but the beauty of their relationship is that it brings out a different side to them. That is what I’m most worried about missing in Season 3. George will do just about anything for his wife, and his grand gestures (like buying out the charity bazaar in Season 1 and ensuring that she has the central box at the Met in Season 2) show how much he truly cares for Bertha and her goals, even though he has no special interest in society. Meanwhile, George is the only person Bertha confides in, admitting when things have not gone her way and being vulnerable, and I hope that side of her is not missing entirely, even if she and George are fighting.
It’s especially disappointing to hear confirmation that the Russells will be at odds because they already had a marital spat in Season 2 when Mrs. Winterton (Kelley Curran) revealed her previous attempt to seduce George. Though Bertha believed George’s claims that nothing happened, she was still hurt by the lie. With The Gilded Age having already shown them apart for several episodes, I wanted to see them working together, if not when it comes to Gladys’ marriage, in some other goal that would benefit both their agendas. There is no better couple in The Gilded Age than the Russells, who share their determination, drive, and ruthless methods while supporting each other entirely, but it sounds like Season 3 will show a different aspect of the Russells’ marriage, and I’m not sure I’m ready for it to change.
The Gilded Age is streaming on Max in the U.S.
